MI

e, my fingers wrapped around his wrist, my heels

their cameras behind us, their sh

ws of the building, away from the lights and the noise and the

I hiss, releasing his wris

hands in his pockets, his expres

e kiss and the performance. You just made a

, and then we were supposed to announce it together when I was ready. When I had

ne was coming forward. You were standing there with a champag

t under

re's an edge to it. "You were counting down to your own des

in my throat. Because he's right. I was dr

of the Upper East Side. The daughter who tried to rebel a

ned me," I say, but the fi

kno

ugh his hair in a surprisingly human

e, and I just... I moved. It was imp

y his jaw is tight. He looks like a child who's be

ate predator, reduced to a boy who acted on

but I cleared my

aid. "There's no point

s gray eyes searching my

figure it out. But right now, I need to get

"I'll be

Hall. I don't look back at him. But

, and her hands trembled around her clutch. When

the hell ju

f cars waiting at the curb. "Right now, you need t

u okay?

, at me through the window. "Be careful, Cam.

e car pull away, and then I turn

*

rough the front door

e slap is so hard that my head snaps to the side and my body follows. I

who stayed behind to watch the aftermath. And they're all wa

smile. He's the one who fueled this. He's the one who whispered in my

e left in humiliation after I rejected him in front o

. His face is purple with rage, his hands shaking. "You just d

sts aching. "I didn't destroy anything. Yo

You are just like your mother. Emotional. Impulsive. Making decisions based o

lk about

ising. "She thought she could leave me. She thought sh

but I refuse to let them fall. I re

ead. "I should have known you would betray me

ps forward, his smile still i

nd slap is harder than the first. I stumble back, catching m

g to help you. You're making a fool of yourself. Ainsworths don't beg. Ai

t time. He's not just a rival. He's not just a usurper. He's a mon

that it was a mistake. A moment of weakness. You were overwhelmed. You made an error in ju

o was supposed to protect me. The man who is now

N

gs in the ai

did yo

g, my heart pounding. "I will not cancel the engagemen

ve this house. Tonight. You are no longer my daughte

e room full of people who are watching me li

I say. "

t look back. I don't let them see the tears that are finally f

my notebook. The scar on my wris

My father is gone. Jacob is gone. Only the staf

ut the f

-

y face. I have nowhere to go. No one to call. I could call Violet. I

Trapped in a bed because she tried to leave. Be

ll not crumble. I wi

I will burn an